What do you do when the women in your house church are prostituting themselves at night in order to buy formula for their babies? This is the question Ive been facing.
Living in Mozambique is an incredible experience, to say the least. Part of what I got to do was start Bible Studies/Home Churches in the community I lived in. I saw these hurting, abused, sick, single mothers open their hearts to Jesus, to His love, His praise, and His Word. However, I got sick at hearing the same prayer day after day:
“Lord Jesus, please don’t let me get AIDS as we try and get money to buy formula for my baby” or “Father, please provide a job for me so I can feed my babies, so they don’t go to sleep hungry.”
We’ve heard it said, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
That is what I am dedicating this next season of my life to- learning how to effectively teach/train/employ women to start their own small business’s in order to provide an income for themselves other then selling themselves.
August 26th, 2009 I will be moving to CapeTown, South Africa to purse a BA in Human and Social Science specializing in Community Development. I have already started on-line classes with UNISA (University of South Africa). It is a 3 year online degree that will help me be more effective in helping women realize their potential and hope in Christ.
(on the beach in Cape Town, close to where I'll be living)
Since it is an on-line degree, I will also be working with AllNations South Africa. I get the incredible opportunity to work in Masiphumelele – a township in Cape Town. A township is a “suburb or city of predominatly black population, formally designated for black occupation by aparteid legislation”. I will be working with women and young girls in the township, helping the women start their own bible studies/house churches and hopefully starting more small jewelry making business’s.
I will be doing what I was doing in Mozambique, just in South Africa- while studying and getting a college degree! After my degree is over, I have every intent on moving back to Mozambique.
I am so very excited for this next season of life!! I feel like for so long, my dream has been to effect and change southern Africa. I feel CapeTown is a crucial hub for making connections and learning about small business’s. This is a critical step in order for me to be more effective in my desires and vision to empower the women of Africa.
Prayer points:
-for a smooth transition back into the south african culture
-that I'll be diligent in my studies and not get distracted
-for the women/young girls i will work with in the township, that God would bring them to me and I would be able to love them well
Praise!!
-my airline tickets have been bought- August 26th
-for a flat that I'll be sharing with 2 other AllNations friends.
-my VISA papers are almost all done!!
-I feel very refreshed and am ready to go back into Africa
